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Stink bugs

What’s the deal with all the stink bugs, asked another Gazette reader.

Stink bugs — in particular the brown marmorated stink bug — was first reported in North Carolina in 2009. Since then, the creatures have sort of just moved in and taken over, according to the N.C. Cooperative Extension Office.

Smash one and you’ll know how they got their name. Their shells resemble shields and they are related to the squash bug, a consistent garden pest.

The stinky bugs can be a pest of fruit trees when they feed on the fruit. Stink bugs damage apples by leaving corky, brown spots just under the skin of the fruit. Their eggs resemble those of squash bugs and are laid in clusters on the undersides of leaves.

During the summer, stink bugs hang out on plants. Cool weather has them seeking shelter and migrating indoors.

Some tips from the Cooperative Extension Office to keep them out of your home:

- Install tight-fitting sweeps at the bottom of doors.

- Install or adjust weatherstripping to close cracks around doors.

- Caulk around windows, doors, and fascia boards.

- Repair or replace damaged window screens.

- Seal openings where cables or pipes enter foundation or siding.

No practical treatment exists to keep stink bugs off of your property. The most effective method is to seal up your home.

Pesticides labeled for application around windows and doors provide a temporary solution.

You can reach Kevin Ellis at 704-869-1923 or Twitter.com/TheGazetteKevin.

Need help answering a question? Send it to The Gazette Answer Man Kevin Ellis at kellis@gastongazette.com.